Wife of murder suspect arrested

September 17, 2011

The wife of a suspect charged with murder in the May 21 shooting of a Lamesa man is in custody, according to local law enforcement officials.
Rosalina Garcia, wife of 30-year-old murder suspect Jose Americo Garcia, was taken into custody by investigators with the Texas Rangers Wednesday in Lamesa, nearly a month after fleeing the United States to Mexico with her husband and two children.
According to unofficial reports, Rosalinda Garcia has confirmed what law enforcement officials have feared since the arrest warrant was issued May 21: Jose Garcia is currently in Mexico.
Law enforcement officials said Rosalinda Garcia was arrestede in Lamesa and taken to Stanton, where she was processed and booked by the Martin County Sheriff's Office. Soon after, she was transferred to the Howard County Jail on a charge of hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.
According to law enforcement officials, the shooting was reported during the morning hours of May 21, when a local resident called 911 to report someone had been shot at their residence in the 3100 block of County Road D 3600 in central Martin County.
Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene to find 32-year-old Anau Rodriguez Villagrana of Lamesa suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head.
According to MCSH Chief Deputy Ernest Wakefield, Villagrana was still breathing when emergency responders transported him to Midland Memorial Hospital. However, the Lamesa man was pronounced dead just before noon by Justice of the Peace Joe Matlock.
The whereabouts of the Garcias' children â€” a 5-year-old girl and a 4-year-old son â€” are unknown at this time, according to law enforcement officials.
Rosalinda Garcia's arrest is the second related to the murder, as Jose Angel Pena-Alvarez â€” who is believed to be an associate of Jose Garcia â€” was arrested earlier this month while attempting to cross from Mexico into the United States.